Regional Job Board

Wilderness Fuels Module Crew Member – Sierra Institute

Taylorsville CA

DEPARTMENT: Community Based Natural Resources
REPORTS TO: Stewardship Specialist
LOCATION: On Site, Taylorsville CA for initial onboarding, Lassen Volcanic National Park for the field
season
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Temporary – term from June – mid October, dependent on weather and field
conditions

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment (Sierra Institute), in cooperation with the Lassen
Volcanic National Park (LAVO) is hiring five Wilderness Fuels Module crew members to work on an
eight person crew performing fuels management in Lassen Volcanic National Park to promote future
prescribed and/or managed fire activities in wilderness areas of the park.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
● Work as a team in safely bucking and limbing live and dead trees and constructing fireline
using predominantly non-mechanized equipment (crosscut saws, axes, etc.) in undeveloped
wilderness areas.
● Fall low-complexity, small diameter trees using non-mechanized equipment.
● Re-arrange fuels, either by piling or lopping and scattering, to facilitate future prescribed fire
● The WFM Crew will also be responsible for mentoring the Sierra Institute’s youth corps,
“P-CREW”, for a portion of the season while they assist with the project
● The crew member will be expected to recognize tree species, defects, and environmental
hazards in executing the prescription and cut tree mark, calling attention to unnecessary risks
and flagging hazard trees for future removal using mechanized equipment.
● Work with project partners at Lassen Volcanic National Park to implement silvicultural
prescriptions.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Required Qualifications:

● Minimum of two years’ combined field experience in forest or other natural resource
management, this may include but is not limited to biological research, survey work, land
conservation, or wildland fire;
● Formalized training and/or experience bucking trees by mechanized and/or non-mechanized
means, and ability to produce relevant certification(s);
● Experience with and interest in utilizing non-mechanized equipment (crosscut saws, axes,
etc.) to perform fuels reduction;
● Experience with maintenance of non-mechanized tools;
● Ability to perform physically taxing work in all weather conditions in rugged mountainous
environments;
● Knowledgeable and proficient in backcountry travel;
● An ability to bring adaptability and improvisation, critical thinking skills, creativity, and humor
to the workplace;
● Ability to live in a campsite setting for eight days at a time;
● Ability to effectively work with diverse teams or with diverse groups of people;
● Ability to be punctual, diligent, and thorough in their work and support a similarly strong work
ethic amongst crew members;
● Interest in, or familiarity with, principles of Wilderness land management;
● Possess a valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license, with an ability to safely operate a 4WD
vehicle;
● Full COVID vaccination status (vaccinated and boosted).
Preferred Qualifications:
● Formalized training and/or experience falling trees by mechanized and/or non-mechanized
means, and ability to produce relevant certification(s)
● Familiarity with the use and maintenance of crosscut saw. Field based experience in bucking
or felling;
● Ability and willingness to teach others appropriate non-mechanized tool use and
maintenance techniques;
● Familiarity with mixed conifer forests and the ability to identify common tree species in the
northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades or willingness to learn necessary skills;
● Ability to use compasses, topographic maps, and handheld GPS units or tablets to navigate
and collect data in the field;
● Current wilderness medical training certification (e.g., WFA, WFR, WEMT);
● Leave No Trace or other backcountry ethics training;
● Certification in S-212 (Federal Wildland Chainsaws).

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This full-time field position will be based in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The crew will implement
prescriptions developed by a team of natural resource professionals dedicated to field reduction and
reintroduction of fire in the novel landscape of LAVO.
The incumbent will be expected to walk 4-8 miles per day with a field pack, ample water, and tools
over rough terrain and in variable weather conditions, which will likely include high temperatures in the
summer months and can quickly drop to dramatically colder temperatures in the fall months.
Strenuous and repetitive physical effort will be associated with fuels reduction activities, including
the use of a crosscut saw and rearrangement of fuels. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds may be
required for piling and rearranging large downed wood.

While working, the incumbent will be provided a base camp within Lassen Volcanic National Park.

SALARY & BENEFITS
Compensation is $23.00-$25.00 per hour DOE. Health benefits through Sierra Institute are not
available for this position but may be obtained through Covered California
(http://www.coveredca.com/). Field staff will be provided monthly sick time, paid holidays, and a set
number of paid wildfire mitigation leave. Paid wildfire mitigation leave is intended to mitigate work
days impacted by wildfire and smoke.

APPLICATION PROCESS
● Send cover letter, resume, and three references as one PDF to jobs@sierrainstitute.us. Use
“Wilderness Fuels Module – Crew Member” as the subject line.
● Mention where you heard about the job (be specific).
● Position open until filled; applications reviewed on a rolling basis starting November 2025.
● Questions? Call 530.284.1022 or email jobs@sierrainstitute.us.

ABOUT SIERRA INSTITUTE:
The Sierra Institute supports rural communities by promoting healthy forests, watersheds, and
natural resource management. Located in Taylorsville, CA, within Indian Valley, the organization
focuses on initiatives that benefit the environment, economy, and equity. Surrounded by public
lands like Plumas and Lassen National Forests, the area offers a uniquely rural lifestyle.
ABOUT TAYLORSVILLE:
Taylorsville, CA, is a small historic town in the scenic Indian Valley, known for its cultural richness and
outdoor recreation opportunities. With a population of 154, it features landmarks like the Taylorsville
Tavern and Young’s Market, as well as unique community events like the Silver Buckle Rodeo and
Holiday Light Parade. Surrounded by Lake Almanor, national forests, and Lassen Volcanic National
Park, Taylorsville offers year-round adventure despite the impacts of the 2021 Dixie Fire. It’s a blended
community of ranchers, loggers, and outdoor enthusiasts drawn to its charm and natural beauty.